It's more than 60 years since Volvo launched the Duett, the first in its long line of family estate cars. This year sees the launch of the all-new V90.

Few car companies can claim the same pedigree as Volvo Cars when it comes to the design and manufacture of family estates.

That is why its new V90 estate, which goes on sale later this year, is so widely anticipated and significant.

The V90 is a car that benefits from more than 60 years of estate-building heritage, which started with the Volvo Duett launched in 1953 – the first car to meet the combined needs of drivers' active leisure time and practical professional lives.

Since that day, Volvo has sold more than six million estates worldwide, representing around a third of the total number of Volvos sold since the company was founded in 1927, giving it a well-deserved reputation for designing and building the ultimate family estates.

Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive at Volvo Cars, said: 'We have provenance in the estate segment. In many people's minds we are known as the definitive estate brand.

'While the Volvo brand stands for much more than just estates, we will proudly carry forward this rich heritage with the V90.'

The launch of the new Volvo V90 is the latest chapter in this proud history.

Based on the same scalable product architecture (SPA) as its XC90 premium sport utility vehicle and S90 saloon siblings, the V90 is the estate version of the widely acclaimed S90, which was launched at the North American International Auto Show in January.

Are you a long-standing Volvo estate owner? Email motoring@archant.co.uk